"Velzoe
is one of those few people who touches every heart that she comes across.
I wrote the piece "Velzoe's Garden" as a tribute to someone
who has been an inspiration to me, by her person, her music, and her
garden." Muriel Anderson
2002 Chuck Winans pipphotography.com
About Muriel: Widely respected as the premier woman fingerstyle guitarist on the scene today, Muriel Anderson is the first woman to have won the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. She is host and originator of the renowned "Muriel Anderson's ALL STAR GUITAR NIGHT®" and founder of the Music for Life Alliance, a non-profit organization to put musical instruments in the hands of underprivileged children by providing instruments and funding for music education to schools and grassroots programs nationwide
"I love Velzoe for her pride and integrity (as well as her fabulous
heart/spirit). The plain truth is I just love her to bits!!! Her love
of life, her curiosity, her unending spiritual search for beauty, and
of course, her music are a continual marvel to me. We all need mentors,
and Velzoe is my heart
g-ddess. Her love and her light truly touch any soul open to the wonder
of this life, and I am so honored to call her my friend... Thank you for
helping the world know some more about our hero Velzoe." --Nan
Collie of Motherlode
Music
Poems by Nan written after visiting Velzoe in Santa Cruz:
She walks in on a cloud
clear as the crystal in the center of her home
- love is like that -
and she brings it again
to the other snowy-haired elders
waiting in rest homes
to finally leave this place
when the spirit is through
giving up what is left of the shell
the bent and crumpled home
housing lifetimes of memories
She comes into this world as one of them
bringing joy and hope
warmth and love and laughter
bending over ivory keys
as she has now for 80 years
She awakens the songs
from their subdued slumber
feet begin to tap
and the words slowly emerge
in minds losing track of today
yet singing songs from 40 50 60 years ago
She takes them back to a better time
a couple gets up to dance
and creeks into a swing
the lines of time smile on shining singing faces
they remember oh yes they remember
She delivers them to the center of joy on old standards
She tells her stories
smiles the dearest of smiles
and rocks out rhythms
as she has for most of her soon-to-be 91 [96] years
They come to life
much closer to ends than beginnings
and a long day
suddenly lifts into timelessness
She brings the gift of who she is
and reminds them of who they've been
and where they are going
She's a little bit of heaven Velzoe Brown!
| Velzoe's
Friends |
| "I was very impressed and touched by Velzoe and her music when I attended PSGW on different occasions. What a musician, and what a pioneer for women musicians. Thank you, Velzoe." -- Lisa Burns (lisa@lisaonbass.com) "I just celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago. We had a band at the party, Velzoe and the Upbeats. They were outstanding." -- DL "The extraordinary musician Julio Cabrara once told me that music is a force that people channel through them. I think that must be true. Religions have saints that channel their divine energy, and Velzoe is like a saint of music, a portal though which the force of music flows. Sometimes a perfect stranger will come to her house to repair her phone or some such thing and after a short time with Velzoe, he or she will be asking "Well, I took piano lessons in 3d grade; do you think I could get it back?" Because everyone wants to be just like Velzoe. And why not? When she starts to play, no one can sit down. She has been inspiring people to sing and dance her whole life. What could be more pleasant to experience than that? She has taught me a hundred songs and inspired me in countless ways, and I am just one of many who have been enriched by knowing her." -- Don Steiny, InfoPoint To add your comments, please contact Shelley (and type "Velzoe" as the subject heading) To read more about Velzoe, visit the following site:
For additional information, contact Shelley at epub [at] mindspring.com (and type "Velzoe" as the subject heading), or call 831.423.9128. |
2nd Poem by Nan:
Velzoe
you called at just the right time
Your light your love
your years of curiosity turned to wisdom
once again touched my heart
opening it to all I love
and all that I am seeking
We are fellow travelers
wayfarers
in search of beauty
and finding it
in the trees we plant
the fruits we harvest
the surreal shine on bright orange persimmons
and the flight of pelicans
We watch awestruck
and know that open hearts
and love
are always the answer
The Beloved is eager abundant
and so ready to embrace us
Who are we
to say "no"
Photo of Nan Collie from Motherlode Web Site